User input for vehicle control

ABSTRACT

A user input for controlling acceleration of a vehicle. The user input has a movable member capable of deflection by a user such that a degree of deflection corresponds to a specified velocity commanded by the user. The correspondence between the degree of deflection and the specified velocity may include a plurality of zones, each zone characterized by a distinct sensitivity that may be capable of customization for a specific user. The user input may also include a neutral position of the movable member, wherein a substantially sudden motion of the movable member to the neutral position causes a slewed slowing of the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of copendingapplication Ser. No. 10/947,122, now allowed, filed Sep. 22, 2004, whichis a divisional application of copending application Ser. No.10/166,553, filed Jun. 10, 2002 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,649 onOct. 5, 2004, which claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No.09/524,931, filed Mar. 14, 2000 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,250 onSep. 3, 2002, which, in turn, claimed priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/124,403, filed Mar. 15, 1999, each of whichapplications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to methods for control of theconfiguration and motion of a personal vehicle, equipped with one ormore wheels or other ground-contacting members, by a person carried onthe vehicle or by an assistant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal vehicles (those used by handicapped persons, for example), mayrequire stabilization in one or more of the fore-aft or left-rightplanes, such as when no more than two wheels are in ground contact at atime. Vehicles of this sort may be more efficiently and safely operatedemploying control modes supplementary to those described in the priorart. A personal vehicle may be referred to in this description,interchangeably, as a “transporter.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a vehicle for transporting a payload over a surface that may beirregular and may include stairs. The vehicle has a support forsupporting the payload and a ground contacting element movable withrespect to a local axis, where the local axis can be moved with respectto some second axis that has a defined relation with respect to thesupport. The vehicle also has a motorized drive arrangement forpermitting controllable motion of the ground contacting element so as tooperate in an operating condition that is unstable with respect totipping in at least a fore-aft plane when the motorized drivearrangement is not powered. The vehicle also has an input device forreceiving an indication from an assistant who is not disposed on thevehicle of a direction of desired motion of the vehicle.

In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the input devicefor receiving an indication from an assistant may be a handle coupled tothe support, and the handle may be extensible.

An input device may be provided for receiving an indication from a userspecifying a configuration of the vehicle, the specified configurationincluding at least one of seat height, vehicle lean, vehicle direction,and vehicle speed. The input device may further include a user commanddevice for receiving an indication from the user of at least one of adesired movement and a desired configuration of the assembly.

In accordance with further alternate embodiments of the invention, thevehicle may also include an assistant-override for disabling the usercommand device while the vehicle is controlled by an assistant. The usercommand device may include a joystick.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, in accordance withpreferred embodiments, there is provided a method for enabling a subjectto ascend and descend stairs with assistance by an assistant. The methodhas a first step of providing a device having a support for supportingthe subject, a ground contacting element movable with respect to a localaxis, the local axis being movable with respect to a second axis havinga defined relation with respect to the support, and a motorized drivearrangement for permitting controllable motion of the ground contactingelement so as to operate in an operating condition that is unstable withrespect to tipping in at least the fore-aft plane when the motorizeddrive arrangement is inoperative. The method has subsequent steps ofmaintaining wheel torque against each riser successively and changingthe relation of the local axis with respect to the support so as tomaintain the center of gravity of the device and the subject betweenspecified limits in forward and rearward directions of rotation of thedevice.

In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided a user input for controlling acceleration of a vehicle. Theuser input has a movable member capable of deflection by a user suchthat a degree of deflection corresponds to a specified velocitycommanded by the user. The correspondence between the degree ofdeflection and the specified velocity may include a plurality of zones,each zone characterized by a distinct sensitivity. The user input mayalso include a neutral position of the movable member, wherein asubstantially sudden motion of the movable member to the neutralposition causes a slewed slowing of the vehicle. The specified velocitymay have fore-aft and lateral components.

In accordance with other alternate embodiments of the invention, a userinput may be provided having a movable member capable of deflection by auser such that a degree of deflection corresponds to a specifiedvelocity commanded by the user, the correspondence between the degree ofdeflection and the specified velocity having a plurality of zones, eachzone characterized by a distinct sensitivity. The distinct sensitivityof each zone may be capable of customized specification by the user orfor the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to thefollowing description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art personal vehicle of the type inwhich an embodiment of the invention may be advantageously employed;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of typical components of a personal vehicle of thetype in which an embodiment of the invention may be advantageouslyemployed indicating the variables used in the description of specificembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a is a plot of commanded velocity of a vehicle as a function ofthe displacement of a joystick or other user input, showing a variabletransmission input control in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 b is a plot of commanded acceleration as a function of timeshowing discontinuities corresponding to deadband regions;

FIG. 3 c is a plot of the effective acceleration in response to thecommanded acceleration of FIG. 4 b, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the personal transporter of FIG. 1 showing anextensible handle used in an assist mode of vehicle control inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a personal transporter indicating the use of anassist mode of vehicle control in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 6A-6D show successive steps in the sequence of climbing stairswith the aid of a personal transporter operated in an assist mode ofvehicle control in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a personal transporter employing an individualcluster leg configuration in accordance with an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Personal vehicles designed for enhanced maneuverability and safety mayinclude one or more clusters of wheels, with the cluster and the wheelsin each cluster capable of being motor-driven independently of eachother. Such vehicles are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,701,965,5,971,091, 6,302,230, 6,311,794, and 6,553,271 and in copending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/325,976, all of which patents and whichapplication are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 1, the personal vehicle, designated generally bynumeral 10, may be described in terms of two fundamental structuralcomponents: a support 12 for carrying a passenger 14 or other load, anda ground-contacting module 16 which provides for transportation ofsupport 12 across the ground, or, equivalently, across any othersurface. The vehicle further includes a motorized drive arrangement 21for driving the ground contacting elements 18. The passenger or otherload may be referred to herein and in any appended claims as a“payload.” As used in this description and in any appended claims, theterm “ground” will be understood to encompass any surface upon which thevehicle is supported.

Referring further to FIG. 1, the modes of operation described hereinapply to vehicles having one or more ground-contacting elements 18,where each ground-contacting element is movable about an axis 20 andwhere the axis corresponding to a ground-contacting member can itself bemoved. For example, ground-contacting element 18 may be a wheel, asshown, in which case axis 20 corresponds to an axle about which thewheel rotates.

Motion of axes 20 of respective ground-contacting elements is referredto in this description and in any appended claims as “cluster motion.”Wheels 18 may be movable in sets, with the moving assembly referred toas a cluster 36. Cluster motion is defined with respect to a second axis22, otherwise referred to as a “cluster joint.” Additional drivendegrees of freedom may be provided, such as motion of the second axisabout one or more pivots which may, in turn, allow the height of seat 28to be varied with respect to the ground. Alternatively, seat height maybe varied by means of a telescoping post, or by means of any othermechanical artifice. Pivot 26 (shown in FIG. 2) may also be referred toherein as a “knee joint.” An actuator (not shown) may be associated witheach driven degree of freedom and controlled using control strategiesdiscussed in detail below. In preferred embodiments of the invention,the actuators include wheel servo-motors and cluster servo-motors, withcurrent supplied to the respective motors by servo amplifiers.Additionally, non-driven wheels may be provided, such as casters 30coupled to footrest 32 or otherwise to support 12.

For purposes of the following description, variables describing theorientation and configuration of personal vehicle 10 are shownschematically in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that the configurationof FIG. 2 is shown by way of example and not by way of limitation. Theconfiguration of FIG. 2 includes an additional linkage 34 between thesecond axis 22 and support 12, where linkage 34 may also be referred toherein as a “calf.” As shown in FIG. 2,

frame_pitch is the angle, measured from the center of gravity CG to thevertical axis, designated g. In balancing mode (see below), frame_pitchis measured between the CG and the contact point on the ground. In4-wheeled modes, frame_pitch is typically the angle of the CG withrespect to cluster joint 22 and may be derived from a measurement oftheta_calf (see below) and knowledge of the machine configuration.

theta_calf is the angle of calf 34 with respect to gravity.

RelClusterPos is the position of cluster 36 relative to calf 34.

phiC is the angle of cluster 36 with respect to gravity, which may beobtained by adding theta_calf to RelClusterPos.

Other variables may be derived for purposes of description and controlalgorithms:

theta_ref.sub.—4_wheels is the angle of calf 34 with respect to gravitythat would place the estimated CG directly over cluster joint 22. Thisangle changes when the seat height changes since calf 34 may move inorder to keep the CG over the cluster joint 22. theta_balance is thebalance angle, and equals the calf angle (theta_calf) required to placethe estimated CG over one wheel. There may be two balance angles forsome cluster orientations, such as when four wheels are on the ground.

theta_des_user is the correction applied to the control loop toaccommodate a user-commanded change in CG or pitch.

RelClusterPos_dot is the velocity of the cluster relative to the calf.Generally, “_dot” refers to the time-rate-of-change of a variable, and“hat” refers to a filtered variable.

Input of user instructions, whether of a person being conveyed by thepersonal vehicle or of an attendant, may be provided by means of aninput device 8 (shown in FIG. 1) such as a joystick or other device fordirectional control, and buttons or switches for other commands. Userinstructions inputted via the input device may include commands withrespect to both the motion of the vehicle, such as its direction andspeed, as well as commands with respect to the configuration of thevehicle, the operational mode, the height of the vehicle seat or theangle of lean of the seat. In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the input device may be joystick that may be mounted onthe vehicle, or may be detachable, as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,405,816. Alternatively, the input device may be a force handleproviding for control of the vehicle by a person currently dismountedfrom the vehicle, such as a person preparing to transfer to the vehiclefrom an automobile, for example.

Joystick Processing

Preprocessing of commands provided by a user for control of a vehicle bymeans of a control input device are now discussed with reference toFIGS. 3 a-3 c. Such commands may be applicable in any of various modesof operation of a mechanized vehicle. Description with respect to a“joystick” is by way of example only, however other input devices arewithin the scope of the present invention as described herein and asclaimed in any appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 3 a, a commanded velocity 40 is plotted as a functionof displacement x as depicted along the horizontal axis of plot 42. Thecontrol provided by a control input is well-defined as long as eachdisplacement of a member which may be varied by the user is mapped to aunique commanded velocity. In fact, a more generaldisplacement-to-commanded velocity law may be provided in whichhysteresis is allowed and the correspondence of a commanded velocity todisplacement of the member depends on the past history of the joystickdisplacement, x(t), where t is time. In accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention; the commanded velocity may be implemented by thevehicle over time, with the acceleration slewed within the confines ofspecified limits, as known to persons skilled in the control arts. Suchslewing advantageously eliminates the need for tremor damping of thevehicle.

In accordance with the control law depicted in plot 42, three regions ofdistinct linear mapping laws are shown. In regions 44 and 46, commandedvelocity 40 varies as a more rapid function of displacement of thejoystick, or movable member, while in central region 48, commandedvelocity varies more slowly with joystick displacement, thereby allowingimproved control of the vehicle in tighter environments. The joystickthereby exhibits an effectively variable transmission ratio, with theratio configurable by the user, for example, for operating parameterscustomized for indoor and outdoor operation. Similarly, all joystickmodes described herein may be separately customized for differentoperation in the various control modes of a vehicle. The control law maybe any specified functional relationship within the scope of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3 b, in which commanded acceleration 50 is shown for atypical time-sequence of joystick motion, regions 52 correspond to adeadband wherein joystick displacement occurs and no joystick output isproduced. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,deadband region 52 is removed from the joystick command so that smoothtransitions out of the deadband area are produced, as shown in FIG. 3 c.Thus, for example, if the deadband region is 20 units large, a requestedjoystick command of 30 units results in an acceleration equal to 10units.

Displacement of the joystick may occur in both fore-aft (x) and lateral(y) directions, resulting in corresponding components of a commandedvelocity and/or acceleration. In accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, commanded x and y components may be coupled so as to limitthe x component based on the current y component, for example. Thus,velocity may be limited during sharp turns.

In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, user inputdisplacements may be overridden, and commanded velocities limited, viasoftware of otherwise, on the basis of specified vehicle parameters.Thus, for example, commanded velocity may be limited on the basis ofbattery voltage, seat height, frame angle, or other parameters.Similarly, the return of the joystick to a neutral position may beprogrammed to result in a gradual braking of the vehicle, whereas hardbraking may be achieved by deflection of the joystick backwards past theneutral position.

Remote Mode

A remote mode is used to facilitate the transfer of the user to and fromthe vehicle. The vehicle is controlled, via a remote control device,without the user being seated in the vehicle. In accordance withpreferred embodiments of the invention, the remote device is the usercontrol interface 8 itself, which may be decoupled mechanically from thevehicle as described in detail in copending U.S. application Ser. No.09/325,463. Communication of data between user control interface 8 andvehicle 10 may be via extensible cable, for example. Alternatively,communication of data may be via wireless electromagnetic waves,including radio or infrared waves, for example. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the user command interface 8 is readilydisconnected from the armrest of the vehicle by means of an asymmetricalquick disconnect mechanism.

A sensor may be used to verify that the user is not seated in thevehicle. In remote mode, the controller resets the gain to a very lowvalue and resets the configuration parameters such as maximum speed andacceleration to values lower than the default values. The low gainsallow the vehicle to be moved and positioned with less force than wouldbe required were the gains set to their default values. The remotecontrol device may additionally require the activation of a failsafedevice such as the depression of a specified button, which may bedisposed on the control device, in order for the command to be acceptedby the controller while in remote mode.

Assisted Stair Mode

The stair mode allows a user to climb stairs independently, as describedin detail in copending U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,794, or with the assistanceof an able-bodied person. The ascent may be controlled by the userleaning and/or pulling on a handrail, and the user may specify the seatheight and lean angle of the supporting vehicle. Cluster rotation iscontrolled on the basis of the position of the CG, whether governed byaction of the user or of an assistant.

In stair mode, the wheel servo loop and cluster servo loop aresubstantially decoupled. The goal of the wheel loop is to drive thewheels back against the stair risers without excessive torque, keepingthe transporter in position while preventing motor or amplifieroverheating. The goal of the cluster loop, in accordance with thisembodiment, is to keep the center of gravity of the vehicle, includingthe user, between the front and rear wheels at all times. An additionalgoal, subsidiary to that of stabilization, is to reduce the force neededby the user to travel up and down stairs.

The control law applied by both wheel and cluster controls in stair modeuses a high-bandwidth servo loop modified by lower frequency inputs.This ensures that the controller remains stable in the presence ofvarious environmental disturbances. Additionally, the dynamics of thewheels and clusters may be decoupled, for control purposes, into anumber of identifiable configurations, and appropriate correction termsmay be applied to the control law within the scope of the invention, soas to provided improved performance under various operating conditions.

Operation of the cluster controller is now described with reference tothe stair climbing mode. The force required to perform stair climbing isrelated to how close the user can put the overall center of gravity ofthe transporter and user over the wheel that is currently stationary orthat leads to the desired direction of travel. If the user can keep theCG over this wheel (either by trunk lean or cluster deflection) then therequisite forces are lower.

The act of climbing may be viewed as a gait with four distinct dynamicphases: Initiation, Swing, Relaxation, and Placement. During Initiation,stair climbing is initiated. At first, the transporter has four wheelson the surface. As the cluster starts to rotate, one pair of wheelsleaves the surface, defining Initiation.

Swing is the phase of stair climbing wherein the cluster rotates throughthe first half of its trajectory, i.e., between the stair tread andvertical position of the cluster, such that, on ascending stairs,potential energy increases. It begins at Initiation and ends when thecluster is vertical. Potential energy decreased duringRelaxation—between the point at which the cluster is vertical and thepoint at which all four wheels again contact the stairs. DuringPlacement, four wheels are on the stairs, and the frame of thetransporter is being repositioned to begin another step.

The basic cluster control law,

ClusterVoltage=K _(p)*PitchError−K _(d)*ClusterVelocity

is modified, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the stairclimbing mode, to address the following issues:

-   -   a. The user CG needs to be held over the back wheel while the        transporter is ascending.    -   b. Similarly, the user (or assistant), on descent, needs to        place the frame sufficiently in the forward direction as to move        the CG over the front wheel.    -   c. A single mode for both ascent and descent is preferred.    -   d. Friction compensation may be provided to reduce the effect of        stick-slip chatter in the cluster transmission.

The augmented control law, in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, is:

ClusterVoltage=K _(p)*PitchError−K _(d)*ClusterVelocity+K_(p1)*RearError+K _(p1)*FrontError,

where RearError and FrontError are zero when the CG is between the frontand rear angle limits, which are shown in FIG. 8. RearError andFrontError become non-zero when the CG pitch angle crosses either anglelimit. The pitch gain, K_(p1), for the limit errors is much larger thanthe ordinary pitch gain K_(p). Thus, in effect, the spring which holdsthe frame upright becomes much stiffer when one of the angle limits iscrossed. This causes the cluster to rotate. By moving the front and rearangle limits as a function of cluster position, the placement of the CGmay be controlled. When the rear limit and the front limit cometogether, then the cluster moves to a precise location based on the calfangle. When the limit angles are further apart, the cluster becomes morepassive and the system is more dissipative.

With respect to the wheel controller in stair mode, the wheel controlleracts as a one-way clutch, or, alternatively, as an electronic ratchet,with a dead band which prevents excessive torque from being developedagainst successive stair risers.

In an assisted stair mode, a personal vehicle may be controlled by anassistant who may apply external guiding signals, thereby supplantingthe role of input provided by a subject being transported by thevehicle. The mode of operation has been described with reference to thestair mode to which the assist mode is identical, with lean input beingprovided by the assistant. In assist mode, the gains used in theenhanced mode are reduced and configuration parameters such as maximumspeed and acceleration are lowered. This allows the vehicle to be movedand positioned with less force from the assistant or the rider. Inaddition, an assist mode safety device (such as an electric switch) maybe provided such that the safety device must be activated by theassistant before the mode may be entered. The safety device may be, forexample, a button 96 (shown in FIG. 4) disposed on the rear of the seatbackrest such that the assistant may easily press the button andactivate the mode, while making it difficult for the rider to do thesame. In another embodiment, the button may be placed on an assistantseat handle.

An assistant may, for example, guide a person, seated in a personalvehicle, up or down a flight of stairs. Referring now to FIG. 4, theinput of an assistant may be via mechanical guidance of the vehicle,such as via extensible handle 90 coupled to support 12. Handle 90 isshown in a retracted position 92 and in extended position 94 asdesignated by dashed lines. FIG. 5 shows a side view of personal vehicle10 after assistant 100 has raised extensible handle 90 to a comfortablelevel, in preparation for ascending steps 102.

The sequence of assisted stair ascension in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention is now discussed with reference to FIGS.6A-6D. In FIG. 6A, assistant 100 is shown applying rearward pressure tohandle 90 in order to move the center of gravity (CG) of vehicle 10,including subject 14, to a position over or aft of point of contact 110between rear wheel 112 and surface 114 (which may be referred to hereinand in any appended claims as the “ground”). Referring now to FIG. 6B,vehicle 10 responds to the shift of the CG to a position above or aft ofcontact point 110, vehicle by rotating cluster 36 in a direction(clockwise in the figure) as to ascend step 102. FIG. 6C shows assistant100 applying a forward force on vehicle 10 via handle 90 so as to movethe CG of the vehicle in a forward direction. FIG. 6D shows wheel 116 incontact with step 102, whereupon the process may be repeated forascending subsequent steps.

Individual Cluster Legs

Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment is shown of a personalvehicle of a sort which may be controlled by the control modes describedherein. In accordance with this embodiment, wheels 120 and 122 are notjointly rotated about a cluster joint but may instead be mounted onmembers 124 individually rotatable about one or more axes at one or morepivots 126 which may be fixed with respect to support 12. Thefunctionalities described above, and in the preceding transporter patentapplications incorporated herein by reference, with respect to clustermotion may be achieved, alternatively, by a loop controlling the scissoraction of wheel support members 124.

The described embodiments of the invention are intended to be merelyexemplary and numerous variations and modifications will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications areintended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A vehicle propelled by a motorized drive for transporting the vehicleacross a surface, the vehicle comprising: a user input for controllingmovement of the vehicle including a movable member capable of deflectionby a user such that a degree of deflection corresponds to a specifiedvelocity commanded by the user, the correspondence between the degree ofdeflection and the specified velocity having a plurality of zones, eachzone characterized by a distinct sensitivity; and a balance-maintainingcontroller for maintaining balance of the vehicle on the basis of aservo loop governing the motorized drive in accordance with usercommands of a specified velocity.
 2. The vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the distinct sensitivity of each zone is capable of customizedspecification by the user.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, whereinthe distinct sensitivity of each zone is capable of customizedspecification for a specified user.
 4. The vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the distinct sensitivity characterizing each zone isacceleration.